Sir, – Cdre Steve Jermy’s article Energy Realpolitik (110/4, p. 482) advocates that national energy needs should be the primary driver of policy concerning the current war in Ukraine. As he says, President Putin is extremely well versed in Europe’s energy needs. Steve argues that the West failed to “listen” to Putin’s signals in 2008 and 2014. This may be so. However, including NATO expansion in the argument ignores the background to this ‘expansion’. In 1994 NATO adopted the “Partnership for Peace” (PfP) initiative, which had been proposed by President Clinton’s Defense Secretary. Russia was…
